New West Theatre celebrates ladies in song with Divine

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New West Theatre kick off their thirtieth season by  nodding their heads to to the talented ladies of music and even tips their hKatie Fellger with Jordanna Kohn and Olivia Earl rehearse  for Divine. Photo by Richard Ameryat to some of the women of comedy, in their new show Divine: The Divine Women of Song, which runs from Aug. 7-24 in the Sterndale Bennett Theatre.


“It’s a celebration of women in song and the role women have played in pop music,” summarized Katie Fellger, who joins the cast after several years as the front of house manager.


“ I’m a New West kid. I grew up with New West, so it is exciting to be part of the cast, Fellger continued.
 She is  joined by fellow newcomer Olivia Earl , relative newcomer Rylan Kunkle and New West veterans Scott Carpenter  and Erica Hunt. The cast also welcomes back Jordanna Kohn, who performed with New West in the group’s early days. Together the perform plenty of familiar pop hits from the Andrews Sisters’ “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” ’50s pop  by Connie Francis to contemporary hits by  Adele and Taylor Swift, plus rock and roll classics by the likes of Tina Turner and Joan Jett.


“It really shows how much influence these early artists had on the modern artists,” Fellger said adding there is also plenty of pop from the likes of Madonna.

“I’m looking forward to performing Madonna’s Vogue. It really has to be performed in a certain way and Jay’s (Whitehead, choreographer) choreography really brings that out. But I also get to sing Joan Jett,” Fellger said.

“These are songs made wKatie Fellger, Erica Hunt and Olivia Rose rehearse Divine. Photo by Richard Ameryritten by or made popular by female artists. We’ve done music by so many female artists in the past, it’s so exciting we thought  this was a great opportunity to put them all in one show,” noted director Kelly Reay.


As always in a New West Theatre music revue show, comedy is an essential ingredient.
“ There‘s walk on comedy and wordplay. It will be relatable to all ages and families,” Reay said, adding there is also a tribute to famous female comedians.


‘“ I’m not saying Lucille Ball won’t get some attention,” Fellger chuckled.
“It is a celebration of female songwriters and their influence on pop culture. But it is really is a lot of fun for Lethbridge families and visitors,” Reay summarized.
 Divine runs in the Yates  Theatre from Aug. 7-24 every night at 7:30 p .m. except for Sunday and Monday nights.


Tickets are available for $33 for adults, $28 for students and seniors and $18 for children,  online at www.enmaxcentre.ca, at the ticket centre at the Enmax Centre or Yates Theatre or through the phone 403-329-SEAT (7328)  L.A. Beat has two tickets to give away for any performance of Divine by answering this question: What anniversary is New West Theatre celebrating this year? E-mail your answer to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

— by Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
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